But studies have uncovered a number of systemic and cultural differences between Denmark and the rest of the world that serve to explain why Danish workers are on average so much happier. This goes far beyond happiness.
According to the results, Denmark, Hungary and Switzerland are paradises for the self-employed, at least according to those that live there. In those countries, around 80% of those who work for themselves (without employees) claim that their job satisfaction is high.
The United States, Germany and the Netherlands have the happiest employees, ranking 71.8, 71.2 and 69.9, respectively, on a happiness scale of 0 to 100, according to a new study from Robert Half.
The average job satisfaction level across countries is 5.22. It is lowest in South Korea (4.80), Japan (4.81), and France (4.93). High job satisfaction levels are achieved in the Philippines (5.81), Switzerland (5.66), and Ireland (5.58).
A recent study by Business Name Generator probes Malta as the hardest-working country out of 150 other nations. The analysis found that the average paid work hours per week in Malta is 42.8, with 91.1% of workers putting in 49 or more hours per week.
People in the UAE are among the hardest working globally and do the longest hours per week. In the list of 150 countries, Malta tops as a staggering 91 per cent of workers spend 49 or more hours per week, the highest out of all countries studied.
A Harvard University study found that the loneliest jobs were also the unhappiest. These include remote jobs as well as jobs in tech, food delivery, and the online retail sector. The study was conducted over 85 years. Over 700 people were interviewed.
Finland is the country with the happiest workers as they achieved an overall score of 7.93. This is 0.15 more than the second placed nation, and 2.61 higher than the average score of all the countries.
Nearly four in ten French business leaders admit to working intense, long hours without regular breaks, well above the 25% global average, the survey found. Americans have popularized “hustle culture,” but it's French executives who binge work the most, according to a new survey.
Denmark is the number one country for work life balance. According to the OECD, an important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence suggests that long work hours may damage personal health, risk safety and increase stress.
The top ten happiest and most loyal workforces in the world are mainly in Western Europe, with Denmark taking the top spot, Sweden at number two, and Costa Rica in third place.
The “loneliest job in the world” is a reference to the presidency of the United States, supposedly a supremely lonely and isolating job because of the enormous responsibility that it entails.
Doctors & teachers – 74%
The booby prize for the most hated profession goes to politicians, with only 57% positive sentiment, followed by insurance brokers, with 59%.
Japan's adherence to its work ethic is legendary with company employees often competing to stay at work later than their colleagues to achieve promotion in many corporations, where company loyalty is demanded and where a job for life still means life. Japanese people work an average 9 - hour day while the unemployment ...
Also doing poorly are Trinidad & Tobago (15.9), Brunei (14.4), Sri Lanka (11.1), Liberia (10.8), Bhutan (10.5), Seychelles (10.1), Malta (9.8), Georgia (9.7), Mauritius and Vietnam (9.5), Namibia (9.3), Bahrain (9.0), Kuwait (8.7) and United Arab Emirates and Jamaica (8.6).
Iceland. Between 2015 and 2019, Iceland led one of the largest 4-day workweek pilots to date, with close to 2,500 people participating. The trial was considered an “overwhelming success” among researchers, with employees reporting improved well-being, work-life balance and productivity.
Somalia was the country with the lowest average weekly working hours per employee in 2021, with the most recent value showing that Somalians worked on average less than seven hours per week.
Thomas Edison took his work seriously. He was known to nap throughout the day in lieu of a full night's rest in order to stay ahead of the competition. His efforts paid off. Over his lifetime, he was able to secure 2,332 different patents.